Robotic platform with long-term learning

Abstract

A method and system for a robotic device comprising a propulsion mechanism to move the robotic device, a sensor for sensing objects, a position sensor, a localization and mapping system, and a processing facility comprising a processor and a memory, the processing facility configured to cause the robotic device to execute a first service task within the service area utilizing the digital map, wherein the digital map identifies an object at a first location within the service area and the robotic device senses the object with the at least one sensor at the first location, execute a second service task within the service area, wherein the robotic device senses the object with the at least one sensor at a second location, and update the digital map to identify the object at the second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic device comprising:
 a propulsion mechanism to move the robotic device;   at least one sensor for sensing objects within a service area and at least one position sensor for tracking a location of the robotic device;   a localization and mapping system that utilizes the at least one sensor for sensing the service area, the at least one position sensor for keeping track of the location of the robotic device, and a digital map of the service area;   a processing facility comprising a processor and a memory, the processing facility configured to store a set of instructions that, when executed, cause the robotic device to:
 execute a first service task within the service area utilizing the digital map, wherein the digital map identifies an object at a first location within the service area and the robotic device senses the object with the at least one sensor at the first location, 
 execute a second service task within the service area, wherein the robotic device senses the object with the at least one sensor at a second location, and 
 update the digital map to identify the object at the second location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first service task and the second service task are periodic service tasks performed in different periods of time. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the digital map stores the location of a plurality of objects in the service area. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the update to the digital map is not performed if the object at the second location appears at the second location for less than a predetermined threshold of time. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the update to the digital map is performed if the object at the second location appears at the second location for greater than a predetermined threshold of time. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , further comprising alerting an entity when a deviation from the digital map is discovered. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , further comprising the set of instructions that, when executed, cause a manual update to the digital map for a change in a boundary constraint in the service area. 
     
     
         8 . The robotic device of  claim 7 , wherein the set of instructions that, when executed, cause the update of the digital map to be performed via a user interface on the robotic device. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic device of  claim 7 , wherein the set of instructions that, when executed, cause the update of the digital map to be performed via a mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic device of  claim 1 , the robotic device further comprising a main robotic device portion and a service module portion, the service module portion adapted to perform a service task, wherein the service module portion is removable from the main robotic device portion. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 executing a first service task with a robotic device within a service area utilizing a digital map, wherein the digital map identifies an object at a first location within the service area and the robotic device senses the object with at least one sensor at the first location, wherein the robotic device comprises a propulsion mechanism, the at least one sensor, at least one position sensor for tracking a location of the robotic device, and a localization and mapping system;   executing a second service task with the robotic device within the service area, wherein the robotic device senses the object with the at least one sensor at a second location; and   updating the digital map to identify the object at the second location.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first service task and the second service task are periodic service tasks performed in different periods of time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital map stores the location of a plurality of objects in the service area. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the update to the digital map is not performed if the object at the second location appears at the second location for less than a predetermined threshold of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the update to the digital map is performed if the object at the second location appears at the second location for greater than a predetermined threshold of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising alerting an entity when a deviation from the digital map is discovered. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a manual update to the digital map for a change in a boundary constraint in the service area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the update of the digital map is performed via a user interface on the robotic device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the update of the digital map is performed via a mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , the robotic device further comprising a main robotic device portion and a service module portion, the service module portion adapted to perform a service task, wherein the service module portion is removable from the main robotic device portion.